The Bruins are more than just hockey. It’s about the entire experience

For three periods a night, the Austin Bruins give their fans a show, but at least twice a night the Bruins’ staff give the crowd something more.

There’s always more going on than a hockey game at Riverside and it’s all geared toward keeping the crowd’s attention while the teams are in the lockerroom.

“We want to keep the crowd entertained,” said Mike Delhanty, community relations. “We want to give them something to look forward to every game.”

The idea of between period entertainment wasn’t a novel invention by the Bruins. Most teams at all levels will do something, but the challenge becomes finding those things that will keep the crowd involved.

And the list is long.

There’s Around the World, a shot-centered game where contestants race the clock and one other contestant to take shots at four different locations near the goal. There’s the Ice Challenge which is basically bowling on ice, and of course there is Bruiser who is constantly wandering the ice and stands and takes the occasional ride with kids celebrating their birthday’s with zamboni rides.

“Bruiser is a big part of it,” Delhanty said. “I think he has just as much fun as the fans do. It helps to find someone who loves what they do.”

Probably the biggest draw of the night is the Chuck-a-Puck, an activity that lets fans rain pucks on the ice in a chance to win prizes from the 24 different prizes. There’s also the chance to win a pizza a month for a year from Papa Murphy’s should they get it in the center bucket.

“That has really grown,” Delhanty said. “We had 14 sponsors last year and now we have 24 different sponsors. We typically sell 600 pucks a night.”

What makes the nights work though is the behind the scenes work from Delhanty and Stephanie Bowe together with announcer Ben Ankeny.

“It’s really great for us,” Delhanty said. “We have a good time working together and we have good communication. Fun for us to see a different side of the event.”

And the brain-storming never stops, especially with the opening round of playoffs just around the corner.

The Bruins will face Alexandria starting with two–games in Alexandria on April 6-7. Austin returns home the following weekend, on April 13-14 starting at 7:05 p.m. both nights.

“We’re always thinking of different ideas,” Delhanty said. “We’re kicking around some different ideas, especially with playoffs which is a big thing.”